Rotary engine



F. L. HORSPOOL.

ROTARY'ENGlNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZY, 1919.

Patented May24, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FfL. HORSPOOL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED MAY 27, 1919. 1,379,028. Pa ented May 24,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

'F. L. HORSPOOL.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATiON FILED MAY 27. 1919.

1,379,028. Patented May 24,1921.

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To all whom it may canoe m."

Be it known that l, Flas ers Lmiov Hoes POOL, e citizen of the United Eitstes, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State oi Utah, have invented a new and; useful improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in rotary engines suitable to he opemtetl by explosive mixtures of fuel onol air, or by the pressure of e steady flow of com-- pressed air, steam or other elastic medium.

While this invention may be operated hf; any suitable fiuitluniier pressure it is particularly adapted for operating by explosive mixtures of fuel snci air, thereby the invention willhe (lescrihetl an explosive engine. Q/

H8 ohjeot of my invention is to provide internal combustion rotary engine, with uniform rotative movement without L. \lQilCl center when two or move explosive chambers are useoii Another ohjectof my invention to pro tide on internal combustion rotary engine, whereby the. maximum energy of the explosive mixtures upon explosion is obtained.

Another object oi my invention is to provide on internal. combustioorotsi'y engine, whereby the explosive mixture is compressml Within the valve chamber: and forced into the explosion ohsmhei.

Another object of my invention is to pic, vide an internal combustion rotary engine that may be driven oontim ously in one tlireotion or reversed ailifi lllll in the opposite direction, about a dei ti'zii axis in an endless piston ohomhei in which the rotary piston is fitted.

With these and other object-s in view, my invention consists of the following arrange ment 0i ports, to he hereinafter described anti claim-ed reference being; had to the drawings -fo1n1i1ig part of this specifieatioii Emd to the figures of reference markeol thereon.

Figure 1 is s1 front view of my inventiomthe throttle lever 86 being removecl.

Fig.2, is-o section on line 2-2 l.

Fig. 3, is'o, section on line 3 3 Fig. 2.

Fig. is a plan View, showing the posi tion oi the reversing levers.

mg. 5, is en enlarged detail on line --5 Off the rots-1y piston, showing the piston positing ii place. i

b g 6 15 s fragmentary section of the rotary piston showing the packing from the side of the rotary piston.

i, is an enlarged view of one section of the rotary piston pocking.

ig. 8, is an enlarged detail view of one of the sliciing shutments, with the packing and. means for holding some.

9, is an end View oi Fig. 8.

Fig. 10, is a. section looking down on line -l0 l, of the valve cam, showing the taper for operating the piston valve.

Similar lettezs and numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The invention'is oomposecl of a casing 1" having '3, water cooling jacket 2., :1 base si1pport 3 a from; Will 4 lizivino a water coolspsce (5 and the heck well 5 which also has a water cooling space 6 the front and back 'alls aie sevurecl into place by means of bolts.

lvithiii theoasing l and between the front well i and the hook i'nllo's located the explosive chamber Z in Whieh is planed and operated the reversing valve; for reversing-2 the travel of the rotary piston. The

reversing valve 8 is keyed on the shaft 9 oi which one end is ournaled in the lllllBl. lace oi the front Wall l and 45' and the other end ptssii.1g out through the back wall 5- to which the-lever 11 is semnixl thereto. To theolever ll is attached to one end of the connecting rod 12, While the other end of the connecting;- l"O(l 12 is attached to the hell crook lever 13. The hell crank lever 1". is fulcrumetl at h to the bracket 15 which is. secured to the (using 1 and then attached to a sliding bar 16. The hell crank leverglii when moved operates the connect ing roil 12 which operates the reversing valve 8. i The bell crank lever also operates the sliding 0211' 16 Whivh iaises and lowers "the sliding ebutinents l7 and l? by operating under l3l16,l12i(l$ 18 and 18 which are secured on the outer end of the sliding.

abutment stems 19 and 19. On the Slldiilf}; abutment stems l9 and 19 M spring 20 and 20 for holding the sliding}, ohm ments l7 and 17' on the periphery oi tli'l')tili'y piston when are released by the sliding lM-I' 16.

is placed a spir-nl- 'ing 26, the piston valve 2'2. the paclri v' 2e cut in mi l'Z packing 21 which is secured the, by a 1n assln through the hole 21. i have also placed another hole 2? lengthv: into which is placed a spiral spring for pre ing the packing 21 to the inner face of the front walls l and the back wall 5. thus pre, venting the escape of the explosion iiaclo Ward.

A spark plug; 23 placed on the casing; l and passing through the easing; into the ex plosive chamber 7 for t oslirig the within the explosive member.

On the front wall l is loc tecl a projection 10 in which is located the valve chamber 25 and the inlet 10 to the valve chamber. In the valve chamber is placed the hush and the gland 29, the gland being; sore-wed into the valvejchainber A bracket 30 is secured, to the from 4 by means of bolts, :1 hole cut in bracket through which passes the piston. valve stem 81 which is sccurerl to the piston valve 27, the bracket 30 is for holding the iston valve stem 31 in line for operation y the valve cam 39.

Attached on the valve stem 31 is one sec tion of the circuit breaker 32, while the othe section 33 is se'curcr screws. The Wire 34 15 attached to th tion 32 and to the generator not shown and. the Wire 34: being attached to section 33 one with the spark plug 23 thus completing the electric circuit.

On the projection 10 of the are brackets 30 in which is fulcruznci throttle lever 36 at 36, which is c at the lower end to a strap 37 is pla within the groove 38 that is cut within the valve cam 39 While the upper end is connected to a hand rod The valve cam 39 is macle in such a 1113B nor that by operating it on. the shaft ll by the throttle lever 86 it Will regulate the travel of the piston valve 26 which in turn Will control the flow of explosive gases into the piston valve chamber 25 from the inlet 40'. Within the inlet eh) I have placeii a check valve, not shown in the (irawi 1 a preventlng the explosive gases Utilil; lbf(f$(i back into the feetl pipe 40 when the piston valve '27 1s bein closed b T the valve cam 29.

From the piston valve chamber and through tile inner face of the front well i into the explosive chamber 7, are port open lngs 51, through which the GXPlOSlVB gases pass from the piston valve chamber 25 into the explosive chamber '7 when the piston valve 27 is being closecl bythe operation. oi.

the valve cam 39.

The front Wall and the he swer for bearings for the meet the sections +16 and as to form. a pocket of the exploded chamber 7 3' project beyond :l completely fill the ca ilosivc he eqpiosivc QE'XFSBS escaping; by 1 pist n, l have provided a packing" vithiu a ,ogmovc cut in l sides of the sec- 4i" and ll" actions. The "ing 48 are p the upper 1 l 1 contact with the in ary piston chamber. n 9 is placed within hole drilled, through the sections t6 and 46 for the lower angles outward and to lrcep them in co act will the inner face t sections of MW) L ier the grooves it: which is for holdci the packing hich are in line in the sicie of the rooves ancl notches are '"i that are locatctl on rout " the e1, e gases wells ancl the refia the inn or i anri 5,, thus escaping;- between tary piston.

lilithin ti :50 to Y can from. the rota iv n-hin the casing the free circula i ozo. gases to eswe holes 51 which allow a water from the front into the back Wall of the rolich is then space A it holes 55 into the casing on. clesc the parts of my invention. 1?. wnl now illustrate the operation of "he drawing shows the invention in the position exploding the gases Within the losive chamber 1. hen, the i chamber.

A .T Jtteti in exploded Within the they deflected by the e pocket 45 then i thus forcing' the placed Within the casing men oi? the arrow removes d. As the rotary piston revolves and the sections to soil to pass the check valve 17 it Will be raised up in the socket end remain until the section has passed end then it will forced down ivy itlie spiral spring; 20.

After the gases neve been 'c .oded and the rotary piston revolves the gases ere released through the exhaust port 50.

The valve com revolves with the shaft 415 end the rotary piston. And when the to" perecl port 53 passes the valve stem 31, the valve stem will be forced iovm by the spiral spring 32 thus removing the piston valve 537 from the inlet i0 eml the port'openiiigs 51, thus allowing the combustion gases to eiiterthe piston valve chamber '25 enrl pass on through the port openings 5 into the explosive chamber '5,

When the piston valve 2'? starts on the upper stroke the check valve in the inlet to Will close end the gases within the piston chamber will lie coii'ipr'essecl into the explosive ehember, and es soon as the piston velve 27 is in full stroke, as shown,

the circuit breaker will. be closed and. the

gases within the explosive chamber expiodeci.

To regulate the ilovv oi into the 1915- ton valve chamber, if more gas required, move the handle 55 of the throttle lever 36 in the opposite direction oi the arrow f, this will give the piston valve more travel dilfl allow a longer time for the gasesto enter.

To decrease the flow of gas into the piston valve chamber, move the throttle lever in the direction of the arrow 7, this will give the piston velve shorter trevel by traveling over the larger radius of the valve cam.

To give the throttle lever full throw in the direction of the arrow it Will move the valve cam in the direction. of the arrow 5! thus causing the valve stem 31 to ride on the radius of the valve com so that it Will not drop into the taper 5 end the piston valve will be held as shown and the inlet to will be closed, thus stopping the engine.

To reverse the direction of the engine, move the rod 55 in the direction of the arrow h, this will operetetlie bell crank lever 13 which will operate the connecting rocl 12 in the direction of the arrow it, this movement Will throw the-reversing valve 8 over to the oppositeside of the explosive chamber 7 as shown by clotted lines. And

the some time the slide 16 Will lift the check valve 1's" by psssing under the head 18, and at the same time will lower the check valve 1'? by passing out from under the licacl 18, time allowing exploded, gases to travel iii-the opposite direction out the arrow (5.

'i fhile Ii have shown tile invention with one esri'slosive chamber cool rotary piston, l." coo re es merry explosive end end of said shaft being journeled in the inner face of said front wall and the other end passing out through said back Well, a lever atteclieol to the end of said shaft that passes out through said back Well, a bell crank lever, a connecting rod ettechetl to seicl lever and connecting with the bell crank lever, said bell crank lever fulcrumerl to e bracket secured to said casing, seicl lever, connecting rod and bell crank lever for 0})- eretirig said reversing valve, sluling'.al utmerits, e sliding her connect-ed to said bell crank lever for raising em lowering the sliding continents, and rod attached to said bell creek lever for operating in on internal combustion rotary engins the coiiibinetion of casing provided With at front and back well, an explosive" chamber located within said casing and between said from. and. beck Well, a reversing valve pieced Within said explosive chamber for reversing the travel of the rotary piston, said reversing valve being secured to a shaft, a lever, one end of said shaft being journeled in the inner itece of said front wall and the other enci passing out through said back well and connecting witlrtlie lever secured thereto, e bell crank lever, a connecting we attached to'seid lever and connecting with the bell era-11k lever, said bell crank lever being-z," fulcrumccl in a bracket securedto said cesingyslieling ebutments, e, sliding; bar connected with said bell crank lever .ior raising and lowering solo shelling sbutments Within said casing, and s rod attached to said bell crank. lever for operating some. 1

3. on internal combustion rotary engme the combination of a cas ng provided with e front and met: well, an explosive chamber located in said casing between. seirl front and beer: well inwhicli is pieced air-Cl operated a reversing valve for reversing the travel of the rotary piston, a shaft secured to said reversing valve, one end of said shaft being gourrioleci in the inner face 0! said front wall and; the other end passing out through the said beck Well, a, lever attached; to the cool of seid, shaft that passes out through the ssicl back well, connecting attached to said lever cool to e bell creel: lever, seiil bell creek lever fulc'rumecl to e bracket secure-cl. to sciii seeing, sliding bar my err iavin a abutments, locaicd \vr e tween said front and haul; veal ch side of said explosive ciambciy pachingg; said abuiinen'ls hz'iving oves cal on each end for receiving are pal/ring. V i or curing said packing' in said reeves said sliding abiitinents having; a b. in which is placed a spiral sp a pressing; said pldflililg in Lhe ii said front and be a stem said sliding; ah i throngh the as m" i said stein ior rer I;

spiral spring on sah said sliding abn'rine l 5. In an internal combo:- gine the combination of a rash front and leach ivalh an explosia located within said 1p; 1 :ri een and back Wall, sliding abntments a groove eiiiin said casing" belwer and back Wall and on each si' e plosive cl'iainben r04 said front located in said abntinenlzs paci a pin for securing grooves a. spiral sparing a of said abusrnents in ivhicl'i spiral spring, said spii packing to the inner race 5 back Wall, a stem secured to s \[l abntinenizs and extending out or said oasis; a l'ding bar, a head on said sieni for re civingz; the sliding bar, said sliding ba to so one oi" said abutments and the r-earner to allow lhc other abutment to drop in when reversing: the travel of the rotary piston, a, spiral spring on said stern for conig iressing said abutments to she rotary piston, said almiments when resting; on. the rotary piston preventing the explosive 1;}; in the opposite direction of said rotary piston, said casing having an exhaust poi or allowing); the explosive so pass on i iii-e piston chamber,

6. ln an internal gine the coinbinacion front and back wall iviah a space, a rotary piston, an explosn located within said ca. -rig between s and back Wall, sliding abntinchs Within a'groove Within said casing between said front and baclr wall and on each side oi? said explosive chamber, icl inpa said abntments having: groo receiving: the pal-hi g1 1 said packing: in Shirl "Till wise of said alail'n'icnie 1d iront and role: rv

out the re in placed, said spiral spring coml ching to the inner face 0 aid from; and baclr. Wall, a stern secured to id abai'inenis and eatending out of said oasis for rcrri vin opcrai r s; 2; id at: on ihe rob ilUlilDlElllls a spiral spring on a: compressing said abutments r'v piston said abntinents when in place on the rotary piston are for preven'nig roe explosive gases going in the oppo c 4 oriion from the rotary piston, a sparir pin extending through said casing inlio lho eir 'iiosive clia'iiobcr, a circuit breaker, said sparlr ,ihin; being connected to a circuit b ncans of a Wire, means for operaongr sail circuit breaker and means for allowing; i oded gases to pass out of lhe b H p chamber.

"in in an Qlll, combustion rotary e11- cine lhe combination of a casing having a front: and back wall, an explosive chamber lor- \iiillilil said casing between said and back wall sliding abutments locared within grooves out in said casing be,

n said born; and back Wall, a projection located on said front wall containing a valve chamber in which is placed a bushing and pisron v ve n said piston valve for compress Ling lxhe gase Within said valve chamber and 'h vino lie i romp, the ports in said valve o ive chamber, a.

:Ulir inlo said irrm 'all )r supporting iid piston valve, a, spiral spring press said sicrn on a lifting A M) carn, a circuit breaker, the lifting cam operating and controlling the travel of the piston valve and operating the circuit bmalrr-ru one secrion of said circuit breaker l: inwhed lo said valve stem and the oil o to said rent well, said circuit b being connected to the spark plug and gel iralor by wires and port openings leading (an said valve chamber through the inner lace of said front wall to the said explosive chamber.

8, In an iilliernal con'ibustion rotary engine the conihinaiion of a casing having a. front and baclr wall, an explosive chamber located in said casing; between said front and haul; vwal sl ding abalnnents located in a groo with" said casing between said oni: and barlr wall, a projection on said ironi wall containing a valve chamber, a valveior said valve chamber and means for operating said val e, a throttle lever, brackcl" on said projection for supporting the throttle lover, a valve cam, said throttle lever being attached at the lower end to a strap placed in a groove in the valve cam, and means for operating said throttle lever.

5). an int rnal coinlmsiion rotary enine (he ((li'lllllllfzlllflll oi?" a casing havin a f the inner face of said front and means for securing nsvaoee said drive shaft, said rotary piston being constructed in four sections, two of said sections being keyed to said drive shaft and forming one portion of said rotary piston and the other two sections being secured to the'sections keyed to said drive shaft and forming the remainder of said rotary piston, said sections together, said rotary piston having pockets formed in the interior where the said sections join, packing placed in grooves out in the periphcry of said rotary piston, said packing being made in right and left sections, said packing in the shape of a right angle with notches cut in the side angle and in line with a groove in the side of said rotary piston, said notches and grooves to fit over a flange on back wall, a flat spring and a spiral spring placed Within said grooves to keep the upper angles v(if said packing in contact with the interior of said caslng, another spiral spring within a hole in said rotary piston to keep the lower angles of said packing in contact with the inner face of said front and back wall and means for oiling said rotary piston.

10. In an internal combustlon rotary engine the combination of a casing having a front and back wall, an explosive chamber located within said casing between said "rontand back wall, sliding abutments located in a groove in said casing between said front and back wall, a drive shaft, said front and back wall forming a bearing for the drive shaft, a rotary piston mounted on said drive shaft, said rotary piston being constructed in four sections, two of said sections being keyed to said drive shaft, the other two sections being removable and secured to said keyed sections by means of bolts, packing placed in grooves out in the periphery and down the sides of said removable sections, said packing being in right and left sections and rightangular in shape, the upper angle fitting in a groove in the periphery of said removable section while the side angle fits in a groove on the side of said removable sections, a fiat spring and a spiral spring placed under the upper angle and within said groove for keeping said upper angle in contact with the inner radius of said casing, another spiral spring within a hole in said rotary piston for keeping the sides of said packing in contact with the inner walls of said casing.

FRANCIS LEROY HORSPOOL.

Witnesses:

SAM RANEY, J. SHERMAN WALLACE. 

